On March 29th the Boeing X-32B (Joint Strike Fighter) completed its first test flight. The new aircraft flew from the Boeing Palmdale facility to Edwards Air Force base. During the next four months the X-32B’s short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing ability (STOVL) will be tested. The X-32-B’s vertical landing ability is accomplished by shutting down the exhaust to the rear nozzles and directing the exhaust to two lift nozzles. In contrast, the Hawker Harrier uses four rotating nozzles that act as both lift nozzles and forward thrust nozzles.